Crimping device

ABSTRACT

This invention consists of a hand-operated crimping device used to close a flange, such as on a car door, comprising cooperating dies where the lower die is a foot coupled to a movable handle and the upper die is the lower frame of the tool.

United States Patent [1 1 I 1 1 3,800,387 Hamilton l l Apr. 2, 1974 CRlMPlNG DEVICE 3,466,727 9/1969 Bukcr 0! a] 29 200 B Inventor: Jam amil 18006 3,503,111 3/1970 Janecck 29/200 B Vanowen, Reseda, Calif. 91335 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager [22] Flled' Sept 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sanford Astor [21] Appl. No.: 286,073

52 us. Cl 29/200 B [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B23p 19/00 This invention consists of a hand 0 perated crimping [58] Fleld of Search 29/200 200 device used to close a flange, such as on a car door, comprising cooperating dies where the lower die is a foot coupled to a movable handle and the upper die is [56] References Cited the lower frame of the tool.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,] 18 7/l9l9 Greenfield et al. 29/200 B 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2:914 1800 387' SHEET 2 BF 2 1 :CRIMPING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, closing the flange on a metal edge such as a car door frame required removing the car door from the car due to the tight space between the door edge and the fender. When new door paneling was being put on, the door was removed and replaced after the flange was crimped.

Another method recently developed uses an air driven crimping tool; however, this tool has difficulty getting into tight places and cannot go around corners at all.

Naturally to be able to crimp the flange on a car door without removing the door saves a great deal of time and labor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which will crimp a flange in an area where there is a very narrow opening to the flange.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a hand-operated tool which can be used to crimp the flange on a car door without removing it from the car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the device.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the device.

FIG 5 is a cross-section taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 with a work piece to be flanged or crimped.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section as in FIG. 5 but with the crimp completed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 there is shown the tool of this invention comprising a body or frame 10 having a crimping head or fixed die 12, at the front edge of body 10. A fixed handle 14 extends downward from body 10.

A movable handle 16 is attached to head 10 by a pin 18 allowing movable handle 16 to rotate around pin 18. The upper end or tip 20 of movable handle 16 extends through a slot 22 in the top of body 10.

A movable die or foot 24 is slidably held in body 10, by flanged edges 26 in the top of body 10 and is elongated to extend out from body 10.

The upper end 20 of movable handle 16 extends through a hole, not shown, in movable die 24 so that movement of movable handle 16 moves the upper end 20 in slot 22 causing movable die 24 to slide back and forth.

As movable handle 16 is brought towards fixed handle l4 movable die 24 is brought towards fixed die 12.

Pressure on movable handle 16 towards fixed handle 14 squeezes movable die or foot 24 against fixed die 12 to squeeze a flange or work piece placed between them.

Referring now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 there is shown the body or frame 28 having fixed die 30 and fixed handle 32.

A movable handle 34 pivots on end or tip 38 of movable handle 34 slot 40 in the frame 10.

A movable die 42 is slidingly received in the upper edge of frame 28 above fixed die 30. Movable die 42 has a hole 44 through which protrudes tip 38.

In FIG. 5 a work piece 46 having a flange 48, which is open, is in position to be crimped around a work piece 50 which has an edge 52 to be sealed within the closed flange 48.

FIG. 6 shows the device after movable handle 34 is closed towards fixed handle 32 squeezing foot 42 pin 36. The upper extends through a towards fixed die 30. Flange 48 has been crimped or closed around work piece 52.

The narrow width of movable die 42 allows it to extend into extremely narrow openings such as the space between a car door and the fender. Only the foot or movable die 42 needs to protrude through the opening and around the flange, while the remainder of the tool stays outside where it can be operated by the user.

Foot 42 is preferably shaped in a generally triangular shape. This shape makes turning corners and working on edges and flanges which have many curves extremely easy. If the foot is rectangular, turning of curves and corners is more difficult and sometimes impossible. The triangular shape of the foot thus gives even greater use and mobility of the tool and allows it to get into eventighter places and turn more complicated corners.

While the manner of movement ofthe foot shown is the simplest method and is effective other manners of association between the movable die or foot and the movable handle may be utilized, such as a forked tipped handle in which the upper end of the handle is forked and fits into two slots in the slidable portion of the foot. The manner shown however allows greater movement that is greater distance of travel apart of the two dies and is thus more effective in many cases.

In operation on a car door, for example, the panel is replaced and the tool is inserted with the foot placed through the narrow opening between the door and the fender. The tool is then operated by squeezing the handles together along the flange moving it a few inches at a time until the flange is completely crimped. The tool.

easily moves around corners or any curved surfaces on the door.

The tool may be manufactured out of any suitable material such as steel or cast iron and the parts are easily replaceable should one part become defective.

I claim:

1. A hand-operated crimping tool for closing a flange onto a metal edge comprising a frame, a fixed die, a fixed handle and a movable die being a foot activated by a movable handle, said movable handle passing through a slot in the foot.

2. The tool of claim 1 in which the movable handle passes through a slot in the top of the frame.

3. The tool of claim 1 in which the foot is slidably received in the top of the frame.

4. The tool of claim 1 in which the foot is elongated and slidably received in the top of the frame and is generally triangular in shape.

shape, activated by f. a movable handle, said movable handle passing through a slot in said frame and a slot in said movable die. 

1. A hand-operated crimping tool for closing a flange onto a metal edge comprising a frame, a fixed die, a fixed handle and a movable die being a foot activated by a movable handle, said movable handle passing through a slot in the foot.
 2. The tool of claim 1 in which the movable handle passes through a slot in the top of the frame.
 3. The tool of claim 1 in which the foot is slidably received in the top of the frame.
 4. The tool of claim 1 in which the foot is elongated and slidably received in the top of the frame and is generally triangular in shape.
 5. A hand-operated crimping tool, comprising: a. a frame b. a fixed handle c. cooperating dies consisting of d. a fixed die e. an elongated movable die generally triangular in shape, activated by f. a movable handle, said movable handle passing through a slot in said frame and a slot in said movable die. 